Liberty University has rolled out an ambitious private pilot course for students who completed its New Horizons Solo Camp. With a goal to complete the private pilot certificate in 30 days, Liberty offered a special financial incentive to the motivated campers. READ MORE ›

NEWS

FAA issues Piper AD to clarify inspection provisions

The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive to clarify a 1995 AD requiring inspections of numerous Piper PA-28 and PA-32 airplanes equipped with oil cooler hose assemblies that do not meet certain technical standard order requirements. The new AD takes effect Aug. 16 and applies to an estimated 23,643 aircraft. READ MORE ›

Join us at EAA AirVenture

Are you at EAA AirVenture this week? Join AOPA’s You Can Fly team at the Flight School Social on Wednesday, July 26, to learn how we can help bring pilots to your flight school. Learn more about the future of avgas from sponsor AeroShell. We’ll also provide updates on BasicMed and the new features of the 2017 Flight Training Experience Survey and awards. Refreshments will be served. The social will be held at the AOPA Pavilion from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Register online.

Student pilot calmly handles precautionary landing

Student pilot Lauryn Spinetta, a 2017 AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship winner, put her emergency training to work during solo practice near Austin, Texas. The oil-air separator on her Cherokee PA 28-160 had cracked. READ MORE ›

House delays consideration of ATC privatization

A bill to reauthorize the FAA and privatize air traffic control was delayed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the bill was not scheduled for a vote during the week of July 17, as had been expected. As opposition to the bill increases, it does so in the face of relentless efforts by powerful congressional leaders and the Trump administration to force a favorable vote from reluctant rank-and-file lawmakers. READ MORE ›

Still time to take the AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey

There’s still time to encourage your customers to take the AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey. The survey is open to anyone who has undertaken flight training at any level within the past 12 months. Your customers help provide valuable feedback on your business, and when they complete the survey they become eligible to win prizes from Aircraft Spruce, PilotWorkshops, and Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Share this URL with your clients. The deadline to enter is Aug. 14.

In the July 11, 2017, issue, we asked whether your flight school has an agreement with a regional airline to train pilots. Here are the results:

MARKETING

Challenge accepted

Challenge coins are collected and traded among members of the military as well as police, firefighters, and civilians who enjoy NASCAR and poker. The tokens are a way to recognize achievements and boost morale. Could a challenge coin be a low-cost marketing tool for your flight school? READ MORE ›

QUICK TIP

Got a temporary cash-flow problem? You might consider asking friends and family for financial support. The cash they provide could be considered either equity in the business or a line of credit. Prepare a one- to three-page plan, including financial statements and projections, that will serve as a mini-prospectus. This strategy should only be used by a growing small business, Money Native founder Liz Lemesevski stresses. More ideas to resolve cash-flow problems can be found here.

SAFETY

OSHworthiness

Do you know how many of your customers will be in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this week? If not, you probably have no idea how many might have benefited from some refresher training before heading up to the Big Show. READ MORE ›